I have a 97 f150 and i am having trouble getting out of 4x4. it goes in on the fly fine goes in and out fine of high but coming out of low doesn't happen unless i reverse?

 

Good day,
What do you have it in when you shift from High to Low or Low to High? If it is an auto, it needs to be in Neutral... And I would recommend the same for a manual... In and out of Low is the transfer case only... Check your fluid... It is getting hung up when trying to shift in and out of low...

Good luck and let us know what the fix is please...

Cheers!!

 

From the 1997 owners manual.

Shifting between 4H (4WD high)
and 4L (4WD low)
1. Bring the vehicle to a stop.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Place the gearshift in N
(Neutral) (automatic transmission)
or depress the clutch (manual
transmission).
4. Move the 4WD control to the 4H
or 4L position.


When you shift into reverse your foot is on the brake and you are shifting from drive through neutral into reverse. This completes the sequence of events required to shift out of Lo.

Here is a ling to the owners manual if you do not have one.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp

 

Ok so switching between 4h and 4L isn't the issue. Sorry about that the issue is coming out of 4h back to 2h. (auto tranny)

 

I have to do that too... I think it is just the way it works... It looks like the pressure on the "coupler shift selector gear" when engaged to the "axle clutch gear" and the "axle cluster gear shaft" (all according to the manual) is greater than the return spring for the coupler to return to the 2WD position while still going forward... When you release that pressure on the coupler, by going in reverse (or coasting backwards slightly), it will move back to the 2WD position...

Cheers!!

 

I have the same transfercase except mine is a manual shift. I can shift in and out of 4Lo even when the truck is still moving. It cannot be faster than 5mph or it does not shift. It is designed to shift when the vehicle is stopped. If it doesn't something is broken.